Happy Friday!
Who’s ready for the Perseid meteor shower this weekend? They’re expected to peak overnight Saturday-Sunday. No telescope is required to enjoy the view. In fact, it’s a detriment. You’ll want as wide a view as possible, which means kicking back and taking in the sky with your eyes. The moon doesn’t rise till the wee hours, so pray to those weather gods that the clouds stay away. It could be a great year for some shooting stars.
(What’s an appropriate sacrifice to the weather gods? In lieu of a weatherman, a brand new telescope cast from the thirteenth floor of a parking garage works in these modern times….)
Here’s a guide with some details (about the meteor shower, not throwing telescopes onto concrete).
https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-perseid-meteor-shower/
But what if it’s cloudy, or you’re blind? Have you heard meteors? Dig this YouTube channel.
Picture me making a scrunched up thinking face, and taking a few steps back…
So…so….
As the particle of comet dust streaks across the sky, the column of air it travels through is briefly reflective to radio waves. The reflections are heard as little pings in the background static. SO COOL!
Now, I must run to spin records in Lynchburg, drop off book promo stuff in Charlottesville, and DJ an afternoon happy hour for some senior buddies. Keep looking up (or listening close), and may you catch some Perseid meteors this weekend!
Treasures from Earth
Speaking of spinning records and matters astronomical…Let’s hear it for GUSTAV.
(Crowd chants Gus-tav! Gus-tav!)
HOLST on to your hats, ladies ‘n gents, it’s The Planets!
Catch ya on the flip side,
Josh
Astronomy includes all portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.